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NCUB PRESS RELEASE NO [6]



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N A T I O N A L   C O U N C I L   O F   T H E   U N I O N  O F   B U R M A
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			PRESS RELEASE NO [6]

		THE SLORC OFFENSIVE IN KNU BRIGADE 4 AREA
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							Date: February 25, 1997

Over 4, 000 SLORC troops launched a new offensive against the KNU Brigade 4 area on January 7, 1997 called operation "Thu Ra."  Strategic command is in Tavoy township where the HQ of the newly formed Coastal Command led by the notorious Maj. Gen. Thi Ha T
hu Ra Sit Maung is located. Col. Thura Maung Nie is the Deputy-Chief Strategic Commander, and Lt. Col. Thein Win, Lt. Col Saw Hla Min and another unknown Lt. Col are the field commanders of the three operations commands.

A final report on February 24 said one column of operations troops marched from the north towards KNU HQ at Htee Kee (Minthamee) and today arrived at Ah-mo village passing through Myitta, Ai Waing and Sin Pyu Daing villages despite a series of defensive g
uerrilla attacks by the KNLA and ABSDF troops.  A series of further clashes have been occurring up until this time.

Another SLORC operations column with 1000 troops marched from Ban Chaung area and is proceeding eastward towards the Thai border.  It has now arrived at Naw Ti mountain near Sar War stream . Several clashes have occurred between SLORC troops and KNLA troo
ps operating together with ABSDF troops.

There have been various kinds of human rights abuses committed by the SLORC troops against villagers on their march to KNU Headquarters at Htee Kee (Minthamee). These abuses include the burning of villages, extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrest, force
d labour, portering, and the looting of villager's possessions.  Villagers have been fleeing from the fighting and human rights abuses of the SLORC and crossed the Thai-Burma border yesterday. Over 3500 displaced villagers sought refuge at Phu Nam Laung  
and another 1500 in the Bong Ti  area.

SLORC offensive troops have been suffering more casualties than the defensive Karen guerrilla troops. No detailed casualty reports are available yet. The fighting has become fierce and further information on the situation will be released when it becomes 
available. 
 
 

Information Committee
National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB)
Tel/Fax: 055 561 040